The Madonna Murti

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ABOUT THE
FILM

THE MADONNA MURTI Where else in the world is black beautiful,
baffling and brings together East and West? In South Trinidad at the
Siparia Roman Catholic Church in that “city of sand”, a black female
statue venerated by Catholics as the Virgin Mary and worshipped by
Hindus as a black Hindu Goddess does just that! To Catholics who follow
her in street processions, the statue is known as “La Divina
Pastora”, the Divine Shepherdess - to Hindus who charawe her by
touching her arms and feet, she is hailed as ‘Sipari Mai’, (Mother of
Siparia) “Siparee Ke Mai” or ‘Mother Kali’. As such, she remains the
only symbiosis of Catholicism and Hinduism in the Western hemisphere.
Mystery shrouds her origin and about her, legends and myths abound.
Though barely three feet tall when fully clothed, this statue draws
pilgrims from every creed and race and the social, cultural and
religious rites which accompany her devotions continue to intrigue the
world. Well known to pilgrims and devotees who profess her numerous
miracles of healings and answered prayers, she is particularly revered
by barren women to whom she has given the gift of children and in turn,
she receives many gifts of gold and grains, fabric and flowers.
Featuring candid interviews with poojaris, pilgrims, pundits and
priests as well as academic experts who have tried to understand her,
artists who have tried to capture her illusive image and writers who
have tried to tell her story, The Madonna Murti utilizes narrative,
drama, illustrations and song to tell the tale of a statue who offers
health, hope, help and happiness to those who come to her most in need
of it.

FILMMAKERS

Oyetayo Raymond Ojoade, Trinidadian-Nigerian film director has produced and
directed seven documentaries. His film Shouters
and the 'Control Freak' Empire won The Best International Short
Documentary Award at the Colombia Gorge Film Festival in 2011 and The Madonna Murti won The Best Shorts Competiton 'Awards of Excellence'
in La Jolla, California in 2012 and Indie Fest 'Awards of Merit' in November 2013.

He has a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Design (graphics) from the
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University of Technology, in Bauchi, Nigeria
and a Bachelor of Arts in Film from the University of the West Indies (UWI).

He is currently working on another thought provoking documentary entitled From Adam's Rib.

Sharon Syriac is
currently a Communications lecturer at the University
of Trinidad and Tobago and a Cultural
Studies postgraduate student at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. She has twice
won scriptwriting awards from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company for The Madonna Murti(2008)
and From Adam’s Rib (2011).

In the 1980’s,
Sharon attended Holy Faith Convent, Couva, where She excelled at English
Language and English Literature. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English,
then a Master of Arts in Literatures in English and another Master in Fine Arts
in Creative Writing (Fiction) all at the University of the West Indies, She
discovered that her interest in writing led her almost naturally towards
scriptwriting. Sharon's
education taught her how to channel her passion. This led her to ‘how’ to
create.